Signalling device



17, 1965 M. c. SWEZY ETAL 3,200,786

SIGNALLING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5. 1964 INVENTOR. Montgomery C. Swezy BY Robert L. Doyle Attorneys M. c. SWEZY ETAL 3,200,7 86

Aug. 17, 1965 SIGNALLING DEVICE 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Feb. 5. 1964 INVENTOR. Montgomery (1 Swezy BY Robert L. Doyle 0 @dJ-Q Attorneys Aug. 17, 1965 c, sw z ETAL 3,200,786

SIGNALLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F i g. 4 \'I INVENTOR.

Montgomery C Swezy 13 BY Robert L. Doyle Attorneys United States Patent 3,200,786 SIGNALLING DEVICE Montgomery C. Swezy and Robert L. Doyle, Palo Alto Calif., assignors to Western Progress, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Filed Feb. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 342,690 4 Claims. (Cl. 116-63) This invention relates generally to a signalling device and more particularly to a signalling device for use on streets and highways.

Signalling devices such as signs have heretofore been provided for use on highways. However, many of such signs have not compiled with the Federal highway specifications. In addition, such signs have been very bulky and diflicult to transport from one location to another. There is, therefore, a need for a new and improved signalling device for use on highways.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a signalling device which can be utilized on highways.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of the above character which can be readily transported from one location to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of the above character which is collapsible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of the above character in which the sign can be readily rolled up,

Another object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of the above character which can be readily erected and disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signalling device of the above character in which the wording on the sign can be readily changed.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments are set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a signalling device incorporating our invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the signalling device as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a crosssectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detailed view of one corner of the sign.

FIGURE 8 is a view showing the manner in which the flexible sheet of material is wrapped around the folded arms of the sign.

FIGURE 9 is a view showing the flexible sheet of material wrapped around the arms and secured to the collapsed tripod.

FIGURE 10 is a rear elevational view of another embodiment of our signalling device.

In general, our signalling device consists of a collapsible stand with a sign removably mounted on the stand. The sign consists of a pair of pivotally connected elongate arms which are movable between a position in which they extend in substantially the same direction to a position at right angles to each other. Means is provided for securing the arms to the stand. A flexible sheet-like member is secured to the arms so that the sheet-like member lies substantially in a plane. Means is provided for ice securing the extremities of the sheet-like member to the arms when the yare extended. Members are removably mounted on the flexible sheet-like member for changing the directions given on the sign.

As shown in the drawings, our signalling device consists of a collapsible stand or tripod assembly 11 and a sign 12 which is removably mounted upon the tripod assembly. The tripod assembly 11 is of the type described in Patent No. 2,781,017 and consists of three telescoping sections 13, 14 and 16 in which the section 13 is the lower section. The section 14 telescopes into the section 13, and the section 16 telescopes into the section 14. Ferrules 18 are provided which can be loosened or tightened to permit vertical adjustment of the telescoping sections. Three legs 21, formed of suitable material such as angle iron, are pivotally connected to a collar 22 slidably mounted upon the section 13. Braces 23 are pivotally connected to the legs 21 and are also pivotally connected to a collar 24 which is affixed to the lower extremity of the section 13. A yoke 26 is mounted on the upper portion of the section 16 and can be utilized for supporting the stafls of three separate flags when the tripod assembly is not being utilized for the sign.

The sign consists of a pair of arms 28 and 29 which are pivotally connected by suitable means such as a rivet 31 (FIGURE 3). The arms 28 and 29 have substantially the same length and are pivotally connected intermediate the ends of the same. The arms are movable between a folded position in which the arms overlie each other and extend in the same direction and in an erected or expanded position in which the arms extend at substantially right angles to each other. Means is provided for removably securing the arms 28 and 29 to the stand or tripod assembly 11 and consists of a clamp 34. The clamp 34 consists of two parts 36 and 37 in which the part 36 is secured to the arm 29 by suitable means such as the rivet 31, The sections 36 and 37 are pivotally connected together by a link 38 which is connected to the sections 36 and 37 by rivets 39 and 41. The sections 36 and 37 are provided with semi-circular serrated cut-outs 42 which are adapted to receive the intermediate section 14 of the tripod assembly. Means is provided to cause the sections 36 and 37 to firmly engage the intermediate section 14 and consists of a threaded bolt 44 which has one end pivotally mounted in the section 36 by suitable means such as rivets 46. The bolt 44 extends through the section 37. A wing nut 47 is threaded onto the bolt and is provided for adjusting the section 37 relative to the section 36 to thereby cause the clamp to firmly engage the tripod assembly 11 so that the clamp cannot rotate relative to the tripod assembly.

The sheet of flexible material 51 is adapted to be mounted upon the arms 28 and 29 as hereinafter described. The sheet of flexible material 51 can be formed of any suitable material such as a heavy canvas coated with plastic or the like. The sheet of material 51 is cut into the desired configuration as, for example, rectangular, as shown in the drawings. Means is provided for securing the sheet of material to the arms 28 and 29 and consists of pockets 52 and 53 formed by additional members of flexible material secured to the sheet 51 by suitable means such as sewing and secured to the ends of the arm 29 by suitable means such as rivets 54. Pocket-like members 56 and 57 are formed on the other two corners of the sheet-like member 51 by forming the same from flexible material and securing one edge of the same to the sheet-like material by suitable means such as sewing. Snaps are provided for removably securing portions of the pocket-like members 56 and 57 to the sheetlike member to permit insertion and removal of the opposite ends of the arm 28. It can be seen merely by opening the snaps 58 that the opposite ends of the arm 28 can be moved out of the pockets 56 and 57 so that it can be moved into a position so that it overlies the arm 29.

Instructions of a suitable type are printed on the sign 12 and, for example, can consist of letters which give instruction to the oncoming motorist. Additional means is provided on the sign to permit the wording of the instructions to the motorist to be readily changed. Such means consists of removable members 63 and 64. In the arrangement shown, the member 63 is mounted on the front of the sign, whereas the member 64 is mounted on the rear of the sign. The members 63 and 64 can be made of a suitable material such as of the material of which the sheet-like member is made. Means is provided for removably securing the members 63 and 64 to the sign and consists of double-ended snaps 66 which are secured to the sheet-like member 51 and extend from opposite sides of the sheet-like member. The members 63 and 64 are provided with male snaps 67 which are adapted to cooperate with the female snaps 66 to hold the members 63 and 64 in place as shown particularly in detail in FIGURE 5. As shown, snaps 67 are provided on the four corners of the members 63 and 64 so that the members will be firmly held in place. Thus, in the illustration shown in FIGURE 1, when the member 63 is moved, the word RIGHT can appear under the sign so that the sign will say RIGHT LANE CLOSED AHEAD rather than LEFT LANE CLOSED AHEAD. When the member 63 is not in use, it can be mounted on the snaps or fasteners 66 on the rear of the sign and thereby stored in an out-of-the-way position. In the example shown, when it is desired to cover the Word AHEAD, the member 64 can be removed from the rear of the sheet-like member 51 and. then placed on the snaps 66 which will hold the member 64 in place so that the word AHEAD cannot be read.

Means is provided for preventing the sign from turning in the wind. Thus, the knurled semi-circular recesses 42 have been provided to prevent the clamp 34 from rotating on the intermediate telescoping member 14. Also, means is provided for preventing the telescoping member 14 from rotating with respect to the section 13 and consists of suitable means such as a cotter pin 68 which is secured to the tripod by suitable means such as a chain 69. As shown particularly in FIGURE 4, the cotter pin 68 extends through the members 13 and 14 to prevent rotation of the member 14 with respect to the extension 13.

When the signalling device is not in use, it can be readily disassembled by first opening the clamp 34 to remove the sign. Thereafter, the snaps 58 can be opened to permit the arm 28to be rotated to a position so that it is in alignment with the arm 29. As soon as this has been accomplished, the sheet material forming the major portion of the sign can be wrapped around the arms 28 and 29 as shown particularly in FIGURES 8 and 9. Since the members 63 and 64 are also formed of a flexible material, they can be left in place. After the sheet 51 has been completely wrapped around the arms 28 and 29, the tripod assembly can be collapsed in a conventional manner and the same fastened together by suitable means such as a strap 71 to provide unitary assembly which can be readily carried from one place to another as shown in FIGURE 9.

If it is desired to erect the signalling device again, it can be readily erected by removing the strap 71 and thereafter setting up the tripod. Thereafter, the sign can be unwrapped and the arms opened to that they extend at substantially right angles to each other and causing the arm 28 to enter the pockets 56 and 57. Thereafter, the snaps 58 can be closed. The clamp 34 can then be secured to the tripod extension.

The signalling device is constructed of relatively light tion to another without any difiiculty. A large number 4 of the same can be transported from one location to the other without utilizing a great quantity of space.

Another embodiment of our signalling device is shown in FIGURE 10 and consists of a tripod assembly 81 and a sign 82. The tripod assembly 81 is very similar to the tripod assembly 11 with the exception that an upwardly extending rod 83 is provided rather than a plurality of telescoping sections which is fixed in a lower collar 84. The sign 82 is very similar to the sign 12 with the exception that'it is smaller than the sign 12. It, however, is constructed in a manner very similar to the sign 11 and is utilized in the same manner.

It is apparent from the foregoing that we have provided a new and improved signalling device which is particularly adaptable for use on highways because the sign can be made relatively large while at the same time having sufiicient strength and stability to withstand the wind.

We claim:

1. In a signalling device for use with a support stand, a pair of non-extensible rigid elongate arms pivotally interconnected intermediate the ends thereof and lying in adjacent substantially parallel planes, means mounted on said arms adapted to be used for securing said arms to said support stand, a flexible sheet-like member having indicia thereon, means securing said sheet-like member to the ends of said arms so that said sheet-like member lies substantially in a single plane adjacent to and substantially parallel to said arms so that said arms provide support for the sheet-like member between the ends of the arms when said arms extend laterally of each other, said means for securing said sheet-like member to said arms including a pair of pocket-like members receiving the ends of one of said arms and each having means for opening the same to permit said one arm to be released laterally therefrom and moved into a position in which it is extending in substantially the same direction as the other arm, an additional substantially opaque flexible sheet-like member, and means removably securing said additional sheet-like member to the first named sheet-like member so that it overlies and obscures at least a portion of said indicia.

2. A signalling device as in claim 1 together with means for mounting said last named sheet-like member on the rear of said first named sheet-like member in an out-ofthe-way position.

3. In a signalling device, a free-standing support stand, a pair of non-extensible rigid elongate arms pivotally interconnected intermediate the ends thereof and movable between a position in which the arms are extending in the same direction and in a direction in which they extend at right angle to each other, means releasably securing the pivotally connected arms to the support stand so that the arms are supported in a position above the surface on which the support stand is resting, said arms lying in adjacent substantially parallel planes, a flexible sheet-like member, means securing portions of said sheet like member to the opposite ends of one of said arms, means releasably securing the ends of the other of said arms to said sheet-like member so that said sheet-like member is stretched relatively taut between the ends of the arms and lies substantially in a single plane adjacent to and substantially parallel to the arms so that said arms provide support for the sheet-like member intermediate the ends of the arms, said one arm having its ends releasably secured to the sheet-like member being movable after its ends have been released from the sheet-like member to a position in line with the other arm so that the sheet-likemember can be wrapped about the arms, said first named sheet-like member havingindicia thereon, an additional substantially opaque sheet-like member, means removably securing said additional sheet-like member to said first named sheet-like member so that said additional sheet-like member overlies and obscures at least a portion of the indicia. on said first sheet-like member.

4. In a signalling device, a free-standing support stand, a pair of rigid elongate non-extensible arms, means pivotally interconnecting the elongate arms so that said elongate arms are lying in substantially parallel adjacent planes and are movable between a position in which the arms extend in the same direction and a position in which they extend in directions at right angles to each other, a first substantially rectangular flexible sheet-like member having four corners, means permanently securing two opposite corners of the first sheet-like member to opposite ends of one of said arms, means releasably securing the other two opposite corners of sair four corners to the opposite ends of the other of said arms whereby said first sheetlike member is stretched relatively taut an lies in single plane substantially parallel and adajcent to the elongate arms so that the elongate arms serve a support for the first flexible sheet-like member when arranged at right angle to each other, means securing said arms to said stand so that said sheet-like member is supported above the surface in which the stand rests, said first named sheet-like member having indicia thereon together with an additional substantially opaque sheet-like member, and snap-like means releasably securing said additional sheetlike member to said first named sheet-like member and overlying and obscuring at least a portion of said indicia and snap like means for mounting the additional sheetlike member on the rear of said first named sheet-like member in an out-of-the-way position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,532 6/96 Hartzell 248-230 1,225,301 5/17 Wolfe 2/18-230 1,629,229 5/27 Sharp 40-125 1,631,608 6/27 Wallace 40-125 1,699,094 1/29 Cihadirjian et a1 135-15 1,705,052 3/29 Viscount 40-125 1,777,884 =10/ Horix 248-230 2,059,996 :11/ 36 Goldberg 40-125 2,090,783 8/37 Chinn 40-1'25 2,120,418 6/38 Sorensen 40-125 2,781,017 2/57 Fuller et a1. 116-63 2,855,890 10/58 Sprenger et a1 116-63 2,856,942 10/58 Scott -4 2,953,114 9/60 Hedger 116-63 3,046,934 7/62 Swezy 116-28 FOREIGN PATENTS 360,205 11/31 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A SUPPORT STAND, A PAIR OF NON-EXTENSIBLE RIGID ELONGATE ARMS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND LYING IN ADJACENT SUBSTANTAILLY PARALLEL PLANES, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID ARMS ADAPTED TO BE USED FOR SECURING SAID ARMS TO SAID SUPPORT STAND, A FLEXIBLE SHEET-LIKE MEMBER HAVING INDICIA THEREON, MEANS SECURING SAID SHEET-LIKE MEMBER TO THE ENDS OF SAID ARMS SO THAT SAID SHEET-LIKE MEMBER LIES SUBSTANTIALLY IN A SINGLE PLANE ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID ARMS SO THAT SAID ARMS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SHEET-LIKE MEMBER BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE ARMS WHEN SAID ARMS EXTEND LATERALLY OF EACH OTHER, SAID MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SHEET-LIKE MEMBER TO SAID ARMS INCLUDING A PAIR OF POCKET-LIKE MEMBERS RECEIVING THE ENDS OF ONE OF SAID ARMS AND EACH HAVING MEANS FOR OPENING THE SAME TO PERMIT SAID ONE ARM TO BE RELEASED LATERALLY THREFROM AND MOVED INTO A POSITION IN WHICH IT IS EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE OTHER ARM, AN ADDITIONAL SUBSTANTAILLY OPAQUE FLEXIBLE SHEET-LIKE MEMBER, AND MEANS REMOVABLY SECURING SAID ADDITIONAL SHEET-LIKE MEMBER TO THE FIRST NAMED SHEET-LIKE MEMBER SO THAT IT OVERLIES AND OBSCURES AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID INDICIA. 